Dead Airman’s Watch Returned after 64
Years

Click to enlargeThe Queens Color Squadron
Carry the coffin of Stirling crew to the grave side – the
remains of three unidentified airmen were in a single coffin
with a single headstone next to the grave of Flight Sergeant
Smith. Credit: RAF

New Zealand
Defence ForceTe Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media
Release01 September 2006

Dead Airman’s Watch
Returned after 64 Years

A treasured watch belonging to a
New Zealand airman has been returned to his family, 64 years
after he was shot down over Holland.

Flight Sergeant Glen
Smith was killed during the Second World War when the
Stirling Bombing he was in was attacked by German
night-fighters and crashed near Bentelo.

Flight Sergeant
Smith was one of two New Zealanders and five British airmen
killed when the aircraft crashed. Sergeant Leonard Moss was
the second New Zealander onboard the plane.

Flight
Sergeant Smith’s parachute failed to open and he died a
short time after baling out of the aircraft. The
unidentified bodies of two other crewmen were also found at
the time.

Last year three sets of human remains were
discovered at the crash site, after an excavation by the
Royal Netherlands Air Force. They were buried this morning
(NZT) next to Flight Sergeant Smith, with full military
honours at Ambt Delden cemetery.

Family members of the two
New Zealanders attended the funeral, as did members of the
Royal New Zealand Air Force.

At the funeral the nieces and
nephews of Flight Sergeant Smith were also able to meet the
Dutch man who talked to their uncle moments before he
died.

A short time after the crash Willem Paalberends,
then 17, spoke to Flight Sergeant Smith who asked Willem to
take his personal documents as he knew he was dying.

In
fear of the Germans Willem wouldn’t take them. Instead
Smith asked Willem to take his wrist watch and asked for a
drink as he was thirsty. When Willem returned to Smith with
a glass of milk, Smith had passed away.

This morning the
watch was returned it to the safe keeping of Flight Sergeant
Smith’s
family.

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